Base assembly for transistors and the like



Dec. 13, 1966 s. c. ROBINSON 3,292,135

BASE ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSISTORS AND THE LIKE Filed July 1, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. SAMUEL C. ROBINSON ATTOR NFY Dec. 13, 1966 s. c. ROBINSON 3,292,135

BASE ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSISTORS AND THE LIKE Filed July 1, 1964 2 $heets-Sheet 2 if l 32 I n FIJ r1 Llz zla 24w 24w w w w l5--P 25 29 33 INVENTOR.

SAMUEL C. ROBINSON BYWMM ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 13, 1966 3,292,135 BASE ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSISTORS AND THE LIKE Samuel C. Robinson, New Albany, Ind., asslgnor to Robinson-Nugent, Inc., New Albany, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed July 1, 1964, Ser. No. 379,524 7 Claims. (Cl. 339196) This invention relates to improvements in terminal base assemblies for transistors and other like electronic devices which present a base end face and a plurality of laterally spaced lead wires projecting axially from the base end face in a predetermined distribution pattern.

The distribution pattern of the lead wires of vacuum tubes, transistors and other like electronic devices varies from time to time and from type to type. It is desirable to provide these devices with a terminal base assembly presenting a fixed set of projecting terminals which can be readily connected into :an electrical circuit system.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a terminal base assembly which is simply and inexpensively constructed; to provide one which may be easily and quickly assembled upon the base end of an electronic device; to provide one which will accommodate a wide range of lead wire distribution patterns; to provide one which, when assembled, is firm or rigid enough to withstand the rough handling incident to its use; to provide one which is not readily subject to damage or to accidental displacement from its assembled relationship; and to provide one which may be easily and quickly disassembled and either reassembled or replaced as desired.

Another object is to provide a terminal base assembly having a simple inner part which can be easily and quickly secured to the lead wires of the electronic device without the aid of any special tool.

Another object is to provide a terminal base assembly composed of two simply constructed inner and outer parts wherein, without the use of any special tool, the inner part may be easily and quickly secured to the lead wires of the electronic device while the outer part may be easily and quickly secured to the inner part to provide external terminals and to establish an internal electrical connection between its terminals and the lead wires.

Another object is to provide a terminal base assembly composed of two parts which may be easily and quickly secured together by a bayonet locking means.

Another object is to provide a bayonet locking means for a 2-part assembly which, for assembly purposes, requires such parts to be axial-1y aligned and permits such axially aligned parts to be assembled only in one predetermined way such that one part occupies a given angular position relative to the other part.

Another object of the invention is to provide a 2-part assembly with means for latching them against accidental displacement out of their assembled relationship.

A further object is to provide an extremely simple means for biasing a 2-part assembly in its latched position.

Most of the important objects of my invention are achieved by a terminal base assembly (for transistors and like devices, which present a base end face and a plurality of laterally spaced lead wires projecting axially from the base end face in a predetermined distribution pattern) the preferred embodiment of which comprises: A. A disc-like plug member, (1) said plug member having (a) central and marginal body portions, (b) a plurality of open ended bores extending axially through the central portion from one end face to the other in a distribution pattern corresponding to that of said lead wires, there being one bore for each lead wire, a plurality of open ditch-like grooves formed on said other end face of said central portion to extend outwardly toward said marginal portion, each groove intersecting at least one bore so that it may receive the transversely bent free end portion of a lead wire projecting from that bore and having .a depth smaller than the diameter of its lead wire, (2) said plug member being adapted to be assembled on and secured to said device (a) with the one end face of the plug member pressed against the base end face of the device, (b) with each lead wire passing through its bore and projecting from the grooved end face of the plug, and (c) with the projecting end portion of each lead wire bent to extend laterally outward within its groove; B. A cup-shaped socket member which is adapted to be assembled over said plug member by (1) moving it axially inward thereover to an inner disc-encircling position and then (2) moving it rotationally about the encircled plug member over a small angle to an offset position; C. Bayonet locking means cooperatively provided by said plug and socket members to constrain the relative movement between said members to movement along a predetermined path leading axially inward to said inner position and thence angularly to said offset position; and D. a plurality of electrical terminals mounted on the socket member to present several contacts between the inner bottom face thereof and the grooved end face of the plug member, each contact being positioned to engage at least one lead wire when the socket member is twisted into its offset position.

The other objects are achieved: (a) By arranging the bayonet locking means to include at least one pair of bayonet slots on one member and corresponding slot entering lands on the other, the size or position of one slot being such that it will receive only one land and thereby prevent the parts from being assembled in any position other than the one position wherein that one slot and land are axially aligned with each other; (b) by providing the socket member with yieldable contacts which engage the grooved end face of the plug member before the inner position of the socket member is reached, which contacts yield as the socket member moves axially into its inner position so that, when the socket member is turned angularly to its offset position and then released, the yieldable contacts will tend to spring press the bayonet land on one member axially into contact with an opposed bayonet slot-defining surface on the other member and thereby cause these members to be axially pressed against each other; and (c) by providing latching means for releasably holding the socket member in its offset position against angular movement toward its inner position, this being simply accomplished through the use of an axially-separable tongue-and-groove connection between adjacent ends of said plug and socket members.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plug embodying my invention, this view showing the top side (or base end face) of the plug and the relationship of that plug to a superposed transistor or like device having three lead wires projecting from its bottom face;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bottom (or base end) face of the plug and the relationship of the plug to said transistor when the top or base end face of the plug is pressed against the bottom or base end face of the transistor, this view omitting all except one of the lead Wires shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a smaller scaled bottom plan view of a plug assembled on and secured to a transistor;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. '3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are bottom and top perspective views of a socket constructed in accordance with my invention for use with the phlg of FIGS. 1-2, FIG. 5 showing the closed bottom side (or outer end face) of the socket and FIG. 6 the open top side (or base end face) thereof;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a developed elevational view of the periphery of the plug member and a developed sectional view of the socket member taken along a concentric circle corresponding to line 8-8 of FIG. 7 which cuts through the bayonet lands, these developed views showing the relationship between the plug and socket when the socket is axially aligned with the plug for assembly thereon;

FIG. 9 is a developed view similar to FIG. 8 but showing the parts in assembled latched relationship; and

FIGS. 10-12 are views of a modification, FIG. 10 being a bottom plan view of the plug, FIG. 11 being an elevational view of the open end of the socket member forreceiving the plug of FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view along line 1212 of the parts assembled.

FIGS. 19 STRUCTURE FIGS. l-9 illustrate a terminal base assembly for transistors orlike devices 1, which present a base end face 2 and a plurality of laterally spaced lead wires 3, 4 and 5 projecting axially from the base end face in a predetermined distribution pattern.

My base assembly may be described as a S-element assembly comprising: A. An inner disc-like plug member which is adapted to be secured to the electronic device 1 through the lead wires thereof; B. An outer cupshaped socket member which is adapted to be assembled over and secured to said plug member; C. Bayonet locking means for securing said socket member to said plug member; D. A plurality of electrical terminals mounted on the socket member and projecting axially therefrom; and E. Latching means for releasably latching the socket member in its operative position.

Inner disc-like plug member The inner disc-like plug member 8 has a central cylindrical body portion 9 and a marginal cylindrical body portion 10, a plurality of open-ended lead wire bores 11 extending axially through the central portion 9 from one base end face of the plug 8 to the other in a distribution pattern corresponding to that of said lead wires 3-5, and a plurality of open ditch-like grooves 12 located on the other outer end face of said central portion 9 to extend outwardly toward said marginal portion 10, each groove 12 intersecting at least one bore 11 (with some grooves intersecting more than one bore in order to accommodate other distribution patterns) so that each intersecting groove may receive the free end portion of lead Wire projecting from the bore 11, which is intersected by that groove, each groove 12, in its embodiment, having a depth smaller than the diameter of its lead wire. The grooves 12 are used to hold the bent lead wires against lateral displacement.

The plug member 8 is adapted to be assembled on and secured to the electronic device 1 with said one base end face of the plug member 8 pressed against the base end face 2 of the device 1, and with each of the lead wires 3, 4 and 5 passing through a bore 11 having the same location as the lead wire, this lead wire projecting from the grooved outer end face of the plug.

In accordance with my invention, the projecting free end portion of each lead wire is bent to extend laterally outward within one of the grooves 12. Preferably, all such free end portions extend within one transverse plane. Different transverse planes may be used but they are not recommended because they appear to increase the expense of manufacturing the plug but do not appear to provide any compensating advantage.

In the structure illustrated, it will be noted that the free end portion of each lead wire not only extends outwardly through the central portion 9 of the plug member 8 but also extends circumferentially in the marginal body portion 10 thereof. Accordingly, the marginal portion of the plug may be grooved but preferably is cut away at 13 to receive the circumferentially extending portion of the lead wire, this portion of the wire preferably being in the same transverse plane as the outwardly extending portion. Despite the fact that the grooves 12 are not dimensioned to pinch or otherwise frictionally hold the lead-in wires, I have found that the bent lead wires provide amply sufficient force for holding the plug firmly upon the base end of the electronic device 1.

Outer cup-shaped socket member The outer cup-shaped socket member 15 has an open base end or mouth 16 and a closed outer end or bottom 17. It is adapted to be assembled and secured over the plug member 8 by moving the socket member 15 (in one axial inward direction with its mouth end foremost) axially over the plug member 8 to an inner plug-encircling position and then twisting the socket 15 rotationally or angularly about the encircled plug member 8 over a small angle (say 15 to 30) to an offset position which, in this specific embodiment, corresponds to an intermediate position from which the socket member is moved axially outward to its normal operating position.

Bayonet locking means The bayonet locking means, cooperatively provided by the plug and socket members 8 and 15, is arranged to confine the relative movement between said members to L-shape having an axially-extending entry section 21 and a circumferentially or rotationally extending holding section 22. The entry section 21 of each slot has its open inlet end on the grooved outer end face of the plug member 8 and extends axially inward therefrom preferably entirely through the plug member so as to be open on the base end face of that plug member. The holding section 22 of that slot 20 extends lengthwise along the major plane of the base end face of the plug member 8 and widthwise between that plane and the opposed face of an interior transverse wall or partition 23, which forms an integral part of the marginal portion 10 of the plug member 8.

As above indicated, the socket member 15 is cooperatively provided with 4 pins, one for each bayonet slot 20. These pins are formed by flanging the open mouth end 16 of the socket member transversely or radially inward and then serrating that flange to leave 4 rotationallyspaced inwardly-extending tongues or lands 24. Each land 24 thus has an outer face corresponding to the outer open end 16 of the socket 15 and an inner face 25 disposed oppositely to the inner face of the bottom 17 of the socket member 15 and spaced therefrom a substantial portion of the depth of the sockets.

Preferably the entry section 21 of one of the slots 20 is made wider than the entry sections of the other slots and one of the lands 24 of the socket member is made correspondingly wider so that it will fit this wider entry section snugly and thereby permit the assembly of the socket-on the plug only when the wider land is axially aligned with said wider entry section. In the drawing, this wider entry section is specially designated 21a while the wider land is specially designated 24a. This same result could, of course, be achieved by making the entry section 21a and its land 24a narrower or by varying the angular position of slot section 21a and correspondingly changing the angular position of land 24a.

Socket terminals A plurality of projecting terminals 28 is mounted on the closed end 17 of the socket member to project axially-outward from the outer bottom facethereof for conventional electrical connection purposes. The inner end of each terminal 28 provides, within the socket member adjacent to but spaced from the inner bottom face thereof, a corresponding plurality of contact members 29, each positioned to engage at least one lead wire (3, 4 or 5) when the socket member 15 is twisted into its intermediate assembled position. Furthermore, the position of each contact 29 may be such that it frictionally engages its bent lead wire initially either when inserted or after the socket member has been rotationally twisted part way toward its intermediate assembled position. Thereafter it remains in slidable or wiping engagement therewith as the rotational movement of the socket member is completed.

Each contact 29 preferably is yieldable. It should extend from the inner bottom face of the socket member obliquely toward the adjacent end face of the plug member. It is axially long enough to engage that end face (or its lead wire) during the assembly operation before the socket member reaches the limit of its axial inward movement and then yieldably resist the final axial inward movement of the socket member to its inner position. In other words, as the axial inward movement of the socket member is completed, the contacts 29 are yieldably bent toward the bottom of the socket member and thereby made to store spring energy. When the socket member is turned to its intermediate position and then released, the stored spring energy of the contacts 29 spring presses the inner bottom face of the socket member and the adjacent grooved end face of the plug member axially away from each their final operating position. But this axial movement is not great enough to separate the contacts 29 from their engagement with their respective lead wires. On the contrary, such axial movement is so limited as to maintain a desired degree of contact pressure between each contact and its lead-in wire in the final operating position.

Latching means With the socket member in its final operative assembled position on the plug member, frictional engagement therebetween may be relied upon to hold these spring pressed parts in their assembledposition. Preferably, however, they are mechanically latched against relative rotation out of their assembled position. I

To this end, a tongue and groove connection is provided between the partition 23 of the plug member and the inner face 25 of the land 24. In the construction illustrated, the tongue 32 is provided upon the plug member and the groove 33 on the socket member.

Assembly operation Since the manner in which these parts are assembled and disassembled should be clear from the foregoing, it should sufiice to say: as to the plug member 8, it is mounted on the electronic device 1 by thrusting lead wires 3, 4 and 5 entirely through appropriate bores 11 of the plug member and then bending the outer ends of such lead wires into their respective intersecting grooves 12; and, as to the socket member 15, it is assembled on the plug member 8 by aligning the widest land 24a with the widest entry section 21a, aligning the other lands 24 with their respective entry sections, thrusting the socket member axially over the plug member so that each land 24 moves axially into the entry section of its particular slot to the inner position Where the lands 24 clear the latching tongues 32, rotationally turning the socket about the plug to an intermediate position where thetongues 32 are axially aligned with their respective grooves 33 and finally releasing the parts so that the spring energy of the yieldable contacts 29 may automatically force the tongues 32 into their respective grooves 33 and thereby latch the parts against accidental rotation out of their final assembled operating position.

FIGS. 10-12 STRUCTURE This modification is the same as the FIGS. 1-9 structure except that: the marginal portions 10 of the plug 8 are not cut away to receive circumferentially-extending lead-wire end portions; the grooves 12 of the grooved end face of the plug 8 are extended radially outward through the marginal body portions 10; and contacts 29 of the socket member are made to extend rotationally over a distance sufficient to insure contact with the radially extending lead wires.

Miscellaneous Terminal base assemblies can be made in accordance with my invention in various sizes ranging upwardly from sizes which are very much smaller than the transistor or other device 1 with which they are to be used. This is indicated in FIGS. 12 and 56. In one of the smaller sizes, the socket member (and the assembly as a whole without the terminals) had an overall diameter of 0.325" and an overall axial length of 0.125" while the disc-like plug member had an overall diameter of 0.300" and an axial length or thickness of 0.050". All of these dimensions are approximations.

If desired, the final offset operating position may be made to correspond to the intermediate position of the FIGS. 1-9 embodiment by using the spring movement of the contacts 29 to latch the socket member in its intermediate offset position. Thus, grooves 12 deeper than the wire diameter may be employed with the contacts 29 arranged to spring thereinto for the purpose of latching the socket member while contacting the lead wires. Beads and equivalent means may be used in place of the grooves 12 to hold the lead wires in place.

In many devices of the type disclosed in this application, the lead wires of the transistor are not only mechanically secured to the terminal base assembly but also electrically connected therein by the act of moving the lead wires axially into the base assembly. In the present case the lead wires are mechanically secured by bending them to extend transversely and electrically connected by moving the socket member transversely rather than axially. This has its advantages.

Finally, it may be noted: that, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 9, the transistor 1 and the socket member 15 are respectively provided with aligning teats 1a and 15a and that, in the embodiment of FIGS. 10-12, the transistor 1, plug member 8 and socket member 15 are respectively provided with aligning teats 1a, 8a and 15a. The teats 1a and 8a facilitate the assembly of the plug member 8 on the transistor 1 while either or both of them cooperate withfthe socket teatlSa in facilitating the assembly of the socket member 15 on the plug member 8.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A terminal base assembly of the type mountable upon the base end of transistors and like devices which present a plurality of laterally-spaced lead-wires projecting axially from a base end-face in a predetermined distribution pattern, comprising:

A. a disc-like plug member,

(1) said plug member having (a) base and outer ends, (b) central and marginal body portions between its end faces, and (c) a plurality of lead-wire-receiving openended bores extending axially through said central portion from one end face to the other in a desired distribution pattern, (2) said plug member being (a) positionable on said device with its base end face pressed against the base end face of the device and with each lead wire of the device passing axially through the corresponding one of its bores to project from its outer end face, and Y (b) securable to said device, when so positioned thereon, by bending the projecting 3. The base assembly of claim 1 wherein: A. said contacts are yieldable contacts I (1) which yieldably engage said plug member before the latter reaches its inner position, and

end portion of each lead wire to extend (2) which, when the socket member is turned to transversely along the plug members outer its secured position and then released, tends to end face; spring press the bottom of the socket member B. a cup-shaped socket member, and the adjacent grooved end face of the plug (1) having a cylindrical bore wall, an open-mouth member axially apart.

at its base end to receive said plug member and 10 4. The base assembly of claim 1 wherein: a bottom wall at its outer end, and p A. said plug member has a plurality of open ditch-like (2) being movable over the periphery of the plug grooves formed on the outer end face of its central member body portion to extend laterally outward toward said (a) axially inward with its mouth end foremarginal body portion,

most to an inner position, wherein its cyline h gr e drical wall encircles, and the inner periphery (a) intersecting at least one bore so that it thereof fits snugly over, the periphery of Y may receive the end portion of a correspondthe plug member, and ing lead wire projecting from that bore, and (b) from said inner position to an angularly (b) having a depth smaller than the diameter ofiset position, this movement initially inof the lead wire it is intended to receive; and volving the twisting of said socket member 13. each electrical contact within the socket member is rotationally out of its inner plug-memberarranged in a position wherein it has Wiping engageencircling position; ment with its bent lead wire during the rotational C. bayonet locking means cooperatively provided, by moveme t of said socket member.

the outer periphery of said plug member and the ThebirlSe assembly of claim 4 wherein! inner periphery of said cylindrical bore wall of said Said Socket member is movable rotationally from ocket m mb r, to on train id o t of aid said inner position to an angularly olfset intermediate socket mb o id l member t a d position and then moved axially-outward from the termined path extending axially to said inner position intermediate Position to its normal Operating Position; and thence to said angularly offset operating position; an D. latching means, operative in said angularly-offs t B. said bayonet locking means constrains said socket' operating position, for releasably latching the socket member to Said axially-inward, rotational and y- I'nember against rotation; and utward m0vements. E. a plurality of electrical terminal members mounted The base assembly of Claim 5 including:

o th o k t member t Present A. yieldable means operative, in said intermediate posi- -(1) a plurality of electrical terminal connections to g i S c t member axially into and on it o t f d yieldably press it in said normal operating position. (2) a plurality of electrical contacts within the The base assembly of claim 6 i socket member, one contact for each lead wire, Said latching means includes tongue-and-gl'oove h t t arranged dj t t0 b 40 means cooperatively provided by and between said spaced f th inner b tt f f id plug and socket members to extend in axially-spaced k t member i i i t b i engageand axially-aligned relationship in said intermediate t ith it l d i h th Socket position and in interfitting relationship in said normal member is in its angular olfset operating Operating Positionposition on the plug member. 5 2. The base assembly of claim 1 wherein: References Cited y the Examine! A. said bayonet locking means includes UNITED STATES PATENTS (1) at least one pair of bayonet slots on one mem- 2 006 155 6/1935 Blake 339 145 g a correspondmg slot entermg lands on the 522; 33 Ruth 49 Richardson 339-99 at least n l mg rr nged to re 2,920,304 1/1960 Webster 339 133 ceive its corresponding land only when one given angular position of the socket member corresponds to one given angular position of the plug member.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

W. DONALD MILLER, Examiner. 

1. A TERMINAL BASE ASSEMBLY OF THE TYPE MOUNTABLE UPON THE BASE END OF TRANSISTORS AND LIKE DEVICES WHICH PRESENT A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY-SPACED LEAD-WIRES PROJECTING AXIALLY FROM A BASE END-FACE IN A PREDETERMINED DISTRIBUTION PATTERN, COMPRISING: A. A DISC-LIKE PLUG MEMBER, (1) SAID PLUG MEMBER HAVING (A) BASE AND OUTER ENDS, (B) CENTRAL AND MARGINAL BODY PORTIONS BETWEEN ITS END FACES, AND (C) A PLURALITY OF LEAD-WIRE-RECEIVING OPENENDED BORES EXTENDING AXIALLY THROUGH SAID CENTRAL PORTION FROM ONE END FACE TO THE OTHER IN A DESIRED DISTRIBUTION PATTERN, (2) SAID PLUG MEMBER BEING (A) POSITIONABLE ON SAID DEVICE WITH ITS BASE END FACE PRESSED AGAINST THE BASE END FACE OF THE DEVICE AND WITH EACH LEAD WIRE OF THE DEVICE PASSING AXIALLY THROUGH THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF ITS BORES TO PROJECT FROM ITS OUTER END FACE, AND (B) SECURABLE TO SAID DEVICE, WHEN SO POSITIONED THEREON, BY BENDING THE PROJECTING END PORTION OF EACH LEAD WIRE TO EXTEND TRANSVERSELY ALONG THE PLUG MEMBER''S OUTER END FACE; B. A CUP-SHAPED SOCKET MEMBER, (1) HAVING A CYLINDRICAL BORE WALL, AN OPEN-MOUTH AT ITS BASE END TO RECEIVE SAID PLUG MEMBER AND A BOTTOM WALL AT ITS OUTER END, AND (2) BEING MOVABLE OVER THE PERIPHERY OF THE PLUG MEMBER (A) AXIALLY INWARD WITH ITS MOUTH END FOREMOST TO AN INNER POSITION, WHEREIN ITS CYLINDRICAL WALL ENCIRCLES, AND THE INNER PERIPHERY THEREOF FITS SNUGLY OVER, THE PERIPHERY OF THE PLUG MEMBER, AND (B) FROM SAID INNER POSITION TO AN ANGULARLY OFFSET POSITION, THIS MOVEMENT INITIALLY INVOLVING THE TWISTING OF SAID SOCKET MEMBER ROTATIONALLY OUT OF ITS INNER PLUG-MEMBERENCIRCLING POSITION; C. BAYONET LOCKING MEANS COOPERATIVELY PROVIDED, BY THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAID PLUG MEMBER AND THE INNER PERIPHERY OF SAID CYLINDRICAL BORE WALL OF SAID SOCKET MEMBER, TO CONSTRAIN SAID MOVEMENT OF SAID SOCKET MEMBER OVER SAID PLUG MEMBER TO A PREDETERMINED PATH EXTENDING AXIALLY TO SAID INNER POSITION AND THENCE TO SAID ANGULARLY OFFSET OPERATING POSITION; D. LATCHING MEANS, OPERATIVE IN SAID ANGULARLY-OFFSET OPERATING POSITION, FOR RELEASABLY LATCHING THE SOCKET MEMBER AGAINST ROTATION; AND E. A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL TERMINAL MEMBERS MOUNTED ON THE SOCKET MEMBER TO PRESENT (1) A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CONNECTIONS ON ITS OUTER FACE AND (2) A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WITHIN THE SOCKET MEMBER, ONE CONTACT FOR EACH LEAD WIRE, (A) EACH CONTACT ARRANGED ADJACENT TO BUT SPACED FROM THE INNER BOTTOM FACE OF SAID SOCKET MEMBER IN POSITION TO BE IN ENGAGEMENT WITH ITS LEAD WIRE WHEN THE SOCKET MEMBER IS IN ITS ANGULAR OFFSET OPERATING POSITION ON THE PLUG MEMBER. 